Elderberry Red 2011

There are different varieties of elderberry and thus far I have discovered that the kind with red stalks going to the berries make the best tasting elderberry. Also continuing my strategy for this year I have added 1 liter of grape juice (red in this case) to each demi, this is to give a more shop like wine quality both in body and nose.

Elderberry Red 2011 


3lb Approx Elderberries
1Kg Sugar
1L Red Grape Juice
1tsp yeast
1tsp yeast nutrient
1tsp citric acid

Technique


To gather the berries quickly I just cut the whole bunch off, and departing from last year I did not even pick them once home I just boiled them up on the stalks.

So boil on stalk... just after the boil add sugar, strain off the liquid, allow to cool a little (bath temp is good enough). Add grape juice to demi, pour berry juice into demi, add cold water to top up. Wait until lukewarm. Add yeast, yeast nutrient and citric acid.

Wait about 3 weeks for fermentation to slow to near finish. Rack off into a bucket through a filter to remove particles. Clean demi john. Put back into demi and leave for 1 week to settle.

Rack off into bottles. You can drink it now but wait 6 months as the acid content in the berries is very high and this allows it time to mellow.

Enjoy!